Wednesday 19 November 2014

It was day of stronger easterly winds, which encouraged a respectable movement of seabirds out to sea. The highlight of a morning's seawatching was undoubtedly a male Goosander which flew south over the South End- this is a very rare species on Bardsey, despite breeding so close in a geographical sense. The last record of this species was over ten years ago. This species also takes Bardsey's 2014 year list to 200- a fantastic number that is very rarely achieved here.

In other news, a good passage of other seabirds included a Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver, two Wigeons, a Shelduck, seven Common Scoters, five Little Gulls, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Common Gulls, 37 Razorbills and 85 Guillemots. Inland, it was clear that the easterly winds were also encouraging an arrival of thrushes to take place. A total of 13 Blackbirds, four Song Thrushes, nine Redwings and six Fieldfares were recorded, whilst somewhere in the region of 3000 Starlings were also seen around the island during the day, many flying past out to sea in scattered flocks.

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